In the present day, the word “detox” may make you think of a juice cleanse or a diet you go on to help your body get rid of harmful toxins that you may have consumed, and you are preparing your body for a “fresh start” with nutritional food and supplements. However, a darker detox requires proper nutrition and vitamins to get off dangerous drugs safely. This is called drug detoxification, and often it’s medically supervised in a drug detox program.
What is Drug Detoxification?
When we talk about “drug detox,” we refer to our bodies getting rid of harmful toxins such as drugs and alcohol and preparing ourselves for a fresh start by eating the proper foods and taking the right vitamins. We are getting rid of the bad and replacing it with some good.
Detox from drugs and alcohol is painful because of withdrawal symptoms, but your body is also hurting from the lack of nutrition when you were not eating right while in active addiction. There are a couple of ways we starve our bodies of nutrients during our drug use:
- Increased Appetite – Substances can cause food cravings, such as heroin users crave sweets such as candy. People that use Marijuana get the “munchies” and therefore eat quick and easy low-nutrient meals such as fast food to curb this craving.
- Decreased Appetite – Users of meth, crack, and cocaine often has no appetite, so they aren’t making poor choices in food but not eating enough.
- Empty Calories – Alcoholics consume large amounts of calories, but their calories are from alcoholic drinks that have no nutrient value.
- No Nutrient Absorption – Certain substances can cause nutrients not to be absorbed by the body even if the user eats a healthy meal.
Why are Vitamins Important in Drug Detox
Vitamins are an essential part of your body’s everyday proper functioning. They are essential when going through drug detox; they help remove toxins and rebuild the immune system. They also may help you with anxiety and insomnia that withdrawal symptoms can bring on. Here are a few vitamins and minerals that help remove toxins and will help during a drug detox:
- Multivitamins – Many soluble vitamins are depleted during an addict’s drug or alcohol use, especially during withdrawal. Not having enough vitamins is usually a cause for feeling tired, skin problems, lack of memory, and depression in the early stages of recovery. A good multivitamin can help cover all the basic vitamin needs and help you to feel a bit more “normal.”
- Vitamin B’s – B vitamins help clean and quickly remove the body from toxins. They help turn sugar into energy, produce blood cells and get the digestive system back on track.
- Vitamin C – Vitamin C supports the immune system and can help reduce stress during the withdrawal process. You can find Vitamin C in natural sources such as fruits and vegetables.
- Vitamin E – Vitamin E helps reduce the damage done to the body from chemicals, and it restores proper function to the blood call hand helps repair skin damage that may have resulted from drug usage.
- Calcium and Magnesium – These help calm the central nervous system and relieve anxiety, which is very helpful in the early stages of detox, which can be severe.
- Protein – We know that protein is broken down when you eat. The amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein, help rebuild damaged cells and help reduce cravings by creating neurotransmitters in the brain.
There are many ways you can get the vitamins you need. At the beginning of your drug detox, you may not feel like eating, but the medical staff at Allure Detox (or your chosen medical detox center) will provide you with the proper multivitamins. When you start eating solid foods, try to balance them with protein, carbohydrates, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Lastly, don’t forget to hydrate with plenty of water.
We Are Here to Help You With Addiction
At Allure Detox, we not only help our clients stop using safely – we help them on the road to a better life. From 24-hour medical staff to therapists and nutritionists, we promise that patients leave our care with more than good health at their disposal. Our focus is on minimizing your withdrawal symptoms to a comfortable level while beginning the comprehensive treatment process that will keep you sober.
Published on: 2020-01-12
Updated on: 2024-09-23
